PBA sets stage for 3x3 inaugural

MANILA, Philippines — As it ushers in hostilities in the 46th season Philippine Cup on Friday, the PBA is also finalizing preparations for its 3x3 pilot set for next month.

The standalone three-a-side competition, according to PBA 3x3 chairman Dicky Bachmann, will commence its pre-launch activities this weekend.

“Once we start the PBA 5x5 on the 16th of July, we can start practicing for the PBA 3x3 already,” Bachmann told The STAR.

The plan is to give the 10 PBA ballclubs and six guest teams a month of training before firing the starting gun.

“Target (opening) date is the third week of August,” said Bachmann.

He said they expect to complete the teams’ rosters by the end of this week.

“All PBA teams have submitted lineups. Guest teams na lang,” said Bachmann, the Alaska Aces governor.

Meanwhile, TNT Tropang Giga’s fancied Fil-Am rookie Mikey Williams is likely to miss the first few games of the Philippine Cup due to quarantine regulations.

Williams, TNT’s fourth overall pick in the rookie draft, just arrived from Los Angeles yesterday morning.